GALLANT ATTACK?.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1917, Page 1

GALLANT ATTACK?.

Capture of Aille.

French Success

(Australia A- N.Z. Cable Association)

PARIS, April 21 Further details of the Fronc-ii offensive shows that the Germans had received heavy reinforcements aud the effect of our bombardment on the crowded trenches was terrific. Our Army between Soissons aaid Craonue had a brilliant success in the two attacks against Mafntiul and Brayc. The Germans managed to hold the postions between tl;e two villages, but our second assault had excellent results. Our troops ascended the slopes of a plateau to the north of the valley, which tho Germans were using as the northern pivot for their withdrawal from the Somme. The French capture of Aide at the foot of the northern slope of the plateau was quite as striking as the capture of Yimy Ridge, as it was cleared at one run, except for the summit. At Craonno the most important results were expected from the capture of Ilurtebise Farm by the Army operating from Craonnc to the north of Rheims. Tho 'fiercest fighting was in the neighbourhood of Lavillcau Bois, where the forest was very strongly organised and packed with mitrailleuses.

The clever French manoeuvres eaid- * cd in the surrounding of an important body of the enemy ,which surrendered en masse, with many machine guns; ( the prisoners taken exceeding seventeen hundred. The snowdad ground to the east ot Rheims curiously assisted the attackers. The Germans, half frozen, and dazed by the bombardment, were so blinded by the,reflection of the sun on the glistening snow that they wei*. unable to see the machine guns before the French were upon them. The enemy are making a desperate resistance before tho French advance on St. Quentin. The French carried the fortified villa geg of Duufayate at the point o* the bayonet, prisouering four hundred, besides inflicting enormous losses on tho Germans in killed and wounded. The prisoners taken are mostly thin and pale, and showed evidence of great fatigue.- The majority of them are oi puny build and very different to those captured in 191-1, or the crack troops used at Moneliy and Lagnicourt. Two German divisions which aiijaeKWi the French at Juvnieourt wore cut u, pieces by the French artilleiy. Another division lost it way liku tho Germans at Lagnooiirt 1 and blundered on to their own barbed wire, and were only extracted .at the cost of a large proportion of their effectives.

Further ReportPARIS, April 21. A French communique says: Between St. Quentin and Oise there was great reciprocal artillery and air activity particularly north of Gonzus. South of tiie Oise the day was quiet. North •‘of the Oise the ha missing of the enemy continued and we progressed in the direction of Chcmins Desuume.,. )\'e occupied Saucy after a violent artillery preparation . The Germans in the evening attacked with huge effectives in the region of Ailleeser Taloiso, but our fire shattered thorn completely and we repulsed the attackThe artillery duel continues with great energy here. In Champagne we captured several important strong points in Moronvillers and Massiff notwithstanding a desperate ctaemy resistance. Since 16th April we prisoncred 19000 and over one hundred guns oeiween Soissons and Auberive. In Argonne, after a sharp action, our detachments penetrated as far as the second German trench.

Copgr.ttildt'd

PARIS, April 21. General Alexieff has telegraphed to General Nivellc congratulating him on his successes, and promising that tne Russian Army will soon strike again.

French Eepcrt

WELLINGTON, April 22r The High Commissioner reports from London oil April 21st at 3.40 p.m.:— Northwards of the Aisne the artuterying was more active in tlio region of Mateuillafosse and Hurtebise yesterday. We prisonered about one hundred on this part of file front. Eastwards of Craonno and northwards of Rheims the night was marked by mutual-violent arfcillerying. We progressed by grenade fighting, notably southwards of Juvincourt- ana eastwards of Courcy. In Champagne we repulsed with heavy losses an enemy attack on a high mount westwards of Maissons de Champagne. We penetrated German lines, driving back the enemy and taking prisoners. ‘LONDON, April 21. • A Fieneb communique .says:— North of the Aisne there lias beuu an artillery duel in the regions of Man-’ dllaose aud Sartebse. East of Craonno and north of Rheims the might was marked by violent mutual artillerying. We progressed here, notably south of Juvincourt and east of Courcy. In Champagne wo repulsed an attack against Manthaun.

Times’ Eepcrt

LONDON, April 20. . “Tho Times”' correspondent at French Headquarters states:—“Despite most abominaWl© weather, rain, sleet, and snow churning the shellploughed soil into morasses, and making air work impossible, and greatly hampering tho infantry, we considerably advanced in half a dozen different sectors near St. Quentin and in Champagne, repelling counter-attacks so effectively that «'e either killed or took prisoner in several attacks every mail.

Meanwhile the terrible bombardment continues on 100 miles of front.

Various Reports.

LONDON. April 20.

Sir Douglas Tlaig reports: We gained ground yesterday evening an the neighbourhood of Fillers and Guislain. AMSTERDAM, April 20. < After tho capture of Yimy Ridge, Marshall von Hiiidonburg rushed by special train to the West to front ende“ vour to re-establish tho line, the Kaiser following LONDON, April 22. -Sir Douglas Haig reports that there lias only been these mutual artillerying in a number of places on the front. LONDON, April 21. ■Sir Douglas' Haig reports:—After sharp fighting we captured Connelian village We repulsed an attempteu raid 'in the neighbourhood of Fanquissant. Reciprocal artillery has taken place in a number of places.